Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Obesity Rates Drop in Low Income Children

Young U.S. children from poor families are seeing an unprecedented drop in their levels of obesity, according to new data
from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The findings represent the
first time ever that the government has witnessed a widespread reduction
in low-income children’s obesity rates and may bode well for America’s
public health at large.

The obesity rate for poor children aged two to four fell in 18 states and the Virgin Islands
between 2008 and 2011. Only three states witnessed a rise in obesity,
while 19 others — as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico —
experienced no significant changes. That’s a far cry from a similar
analysis conducted in 2009, when 24 states saw higher childhood obesity rates among low-income families and only nine states or territories underwent a decline.

Although the reductions themselves are modest — averaging around one
percent — scientists consider them widespread enough to be significant.
“[W]e’ve seen isolated reports in the past that have had encouraging
trends, but this is the first report to show many states with declining
rates of obesity in our youngest children after literally decades of
rising rates,” said CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden during a press conference.